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Adorned

Gajra flowers, hair jewellery, beads, combs, pins and the maang tikka. 15 hairstyles on EveryHairstyle so far.

Hair has been adorned with flowers, pins, combs, beads and jewels in almost every culture. In South Asia the gajra, a garland of jasmine, is worn on buns and plaits every day and at weddings. Japan has kanzashi, Korea the binyeo and the daenggi ribbon, West Africa cowrie shells and amber in Fulani braids, and Europe the tiara and the jewelled comb.

Flowers and jewels in South Asia

Jasmine gajras are strung fresh each morning and sold at temple gates, wound around a jooda or along a choti. Brides wear many strands, and South Indian brides and dancers fit a jadanagam, a row of jewelled ornaments, along the plait. In North India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the maang tikka hangs on the parting with a pendant on the forehead, and in Punjab a tasselled paranda is woven into the end of the plait.

Pins, combs and beads

In Japan, kanzashi pins and lacquered combs decorated the traditional nihongami; Kyoto's maiko change them with the seasons. Married Korean women fixed their buns with a long binyeo, while unmarried people tied their braids with a daenggi ribbon. In West Africa, beads, cowries, amber and silver coins decorate braids and have shown wealth and status. European tiaras and jewelled combs were signs of rank and are still worn by brides.

Famous adorned hairstyles

Still to be written: Tiara.

Further reading

Hwagwan 🇰🇷 South KoreaHwagwan Elaborate Korean ceremonial coronet for womenWrapped · Any hair 🇰🇷 South KoreaBinyeo A traditional Korean hairpin used to secure chignons and signal social status.Adorned 🇮🇳 IndiaPunjabi paranda A multicoloured silk braid extension from Punjab.Adorned · Any hair 🇺🇦 UkraineUkrainian wreath Traditional floral headdress for Ukrainian girls and unmarried womenWrapped · Any hair 🇯🇵 JapanKanzashi Traditional Japanese hair ornaments made from metal, wood, silk, or folded fabric.Adorned 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreGajra Flower garland worn in the hair or on the wristAdorned · Any hair 🇰🇷 South KoreaDaenggi A traditional Korean ribbon used to tie and decorate braided hair.Adorned 🇨🇳 ChinaChinese hairpin Traditional Chinese hair ornaments used to secure buns and signify status.Adorned · Any hair 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreBuyao A Chinese hairpin with dangling ornaments that sway when the wearer moves.Adorned · Any hair Guan Li 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGuan Li A traditional Han Chinese coming-of-age ritual for men involving the wearing of a guan cap.Wrapped WorldHair stick A long, thin accessory used to secure hair buns and updos.Adorned · Any hair 🇪🇸 SpainPeineta Large decorative comb worn under a lace veilAdorned · Any hair · 1800 🇨🇳 ChinaLiangbatou A tall Manchu headdress featuring two side-parted hair sections and elaborate ornamentation.Wrapped 🇳🇬 Nigeria and 4 moreFulani braids West African braided style with beads and side strandsBraid · Coily and kinky hair 🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreHair extensions Cosmetic additions of human or synthetic hair attached to natural hair for length and volume.Styled · Any hair · 1950

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The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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